Hi,
I received a penalty fare last year on an occasion where I did in fact have a valid ticket. I wrote to the TOC in question at their registered business address reaffirming this and asking for a refund of the monies paid, but did not receive a response.
Subsequently I received communication for the remaining part of the penalty fare, plus £40 of costs threatening prosecution. In light of the threat, I paid this in full. I then wrote to the TOC again, enclosing my previous letter, asking for the £20 penalty fare and £40 costs to be refunded, plus £20 compensation and £40 to cover my own costs. Again I did not receive a response.
I wrote to them finally at the end of the year, enclosing my previous letters, notifying them of my intention to issue proceedings in the county court without further notice if I did not receive a response, and again I did not receive a response.
As the TOC has claimed a £20 penalty (compensation) and £40 costs, I believe that is a clear admission that they consider these reasonable for a ticket validity dispute, which is why I claimed my own compensation and costs of the same amounts.
Whilst the validity of the fare and the TOC in question is out of the scope of my post, on the basis that I did have a valid ticket I am seeking advice on the costs or compensation I should claim for pursuant to having to take the TOC to court? i.e. when a TOC takes a passenger to court over a fare irregularity, what level of costs and compensation do they seek?
Thanks in advance!
I received a penalty fare last year on an occasion where I did in fact have a valid ticket. I wrote to the TOC in question at their registered business address reaffirming this and asking for a refund of the monies paid, but did not receive a response.
Subsequently I received communication for the remaining part of the penalty fare, plus £40 of costs threatening prosecution. In light of the threat, I paid this in full. I then wrote to the TOC again, enclosing my previous letter, asking for the £20 penalty fare and £40 costs to be refunded, plus £20 compensation and £40 to cover my own costs. Again I did not receive a response.
I wrote to them finally at the end of the year, enclosing my previous letters, notifying them of my intention to issue proceedings in the county court without further notice if I did not receive a response, and again I did not receive a response.
As the TOC has claimed a £20 penalty (compensation) and £40 costs, I believe that is a clear admission that they consider these reasonable for a ticket validity dispute, which is why I claimed my own compensation and costs of the same amounts.
Whilst the validity of the fare and the TOC in question is out of the scope of my post, on the basis that I did have a valid ticket I am seeking advice on the costs or compensation I should claim for pursuant to having to take the TOC to court? i.e. when a TOC takes a passenger to court over a fare irregularity, what level of costs and compensation do they seek?
Thanks in advance!
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